Feature: Variety Splash

Boaties splash out thousands

The inaugural Variety Splash, held in Melbourne from February 28 to March 1, was a huge success with participants and sponsors raising around $140,000 for the children's charity, said organisers.

On a blustery Melbourne Thursday (Feb 28), more than 20 power and sailboats departed Docklands, travelling a three-day course to Mornington, across the bay to Geelong and back up the coast to Waterfront City.

Boats on the Splash varied greatly, from small cruisers and yachts to luxury Riviera and Maritimo powerboats, and even the famous America's Cup yacht Kookaburra and Grant Wharrington's super maxi Skandia Wild Thing joined in the fun.

Splashers swapped their sea legs for dancing shoes during the stopovers and nightly functions at Mornington Yacht Club and Royal Geelong Yacht Club, and they all celebrated in style during the event's final festivities at the Melbourne Yacht Club Hotel.

Variety CEO, Norm Hutton, announced on Saturday evening the Variety Splash - modelled on the successful road-based Variety Bash - would be an annual event in Victoria.

"We're thrilled with the success of the Variety Splash...the boating community has really embraced the meaning behind the event and I'm blown away by the generosity," said Hutton.

LUXURY CRUISERS STAY ON
While the Splash finished for most participants on Saturday night, two luxury cruisers stayed at Docklands to ferry people around the bay on Sunday as part of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival. Proceeds from the 45-minute cruises raised even more money for Variety.

Maritimo 60 owners, Murray and Julie Nugent, said they had such a great time on the Splash, they were happy to make the experience last one more day.

"Fundraising events like the Splash and the work that Variety carries out for the children in our community are so worthwhile," said Nugent.

"We were delighted to be able to help out by donating the use of our boat, About Time, for the event - and we had a ball in the process!" he said.

Among its many other activities, Variety donates Sunshine Coaches - wheelchair-accessible buses - to special schools and other organisations to provide transport for children, so they can get to their daily activities. The organisers said that $50,000 of the funds raised through this event will be used to purchase another of these vehicles.

Funds raised through Variety, the children's charity, go towards providing utilities and life experiences for Australia's sick, disadvantaged and special needs children.

Some of the many projects Variety supports include: enabling life-saving medical treatment; funding hospital wards and neo-natal transport ambulances; running public education campaigns; providing scholarships; purchasing minibuses and wheelchair-friendly playground equipment; and supporting individuals with mobility and communication devices.

TROPHY FOR MOST FUNDS
Awarded the trophy for raising $28,000 - the rally's highest figure - Clairabella's proud owner Peter Coffey said afterwards: "We set ourselves a target to raise $20,000, but then we received some very generous donations of various items including a day in a corporate box at the Caulfield races, which we auctioned and raised an extra $7500.

"I first heard about the Variety Splash event about 12 months ago from RVMYC's Peter Lawler...I thought it was a good cause and decided to do it in my Queensland-built Outsider 44," said Coffey.

"I sent letters out to different people and companies I thought would be interested to sponsor our boat.

"We received outstanding support from numerous companies including Corporate Sports Events, Demolition Contractors Association of Victoria, All City Concrete Sawing, Tenakee Scaffolding, and Marine Engineering in Williamstown," Coffey said.

Boating Victoria, the new peak body for motorboat clubs and powerboat owners helped promote participation and interest in the rally among the clubs and boat owners.

Boating Victoria's chairman, Kevin Ezard, said: "Part of the sizzle that powerboating offers is to be able to get away in company with your guests and have a great time. After this Rally's outstanding success it is poised to become an important annual powerboating social event."